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"Takeno Sensei's technique felt very strong and sharp, but Master Shioda Sensei executed his technique so swiftly I hardly felt anything but one movement, then all the muscles in my body were locked instantly. It felt like a vibration went through the whole body, which was being controlled by this little old man, though I didn't feel any pain. The weight he applied before he threw was so intense it felt like I had weights dropped on me a second before my whole body collapsed"

"Takeno Sensei's technique felt very strong and sharp, but Master Shioda Sensei executed his technique so swiftly I hardly felt anything but one movement, then all the muscles in my body were locked instantly. It felt like a vibration went through the whole body, which was being controlled by this little old man, though I didn't feel any pain. The weight he applied before he threw was so intense it felt like I had weights dropped on me a second before my whole body collapsed"

That's Aiki!

Alex

Indeed. Also, while I knew that the uchi deshi life was not easy, I never imaginded that it was so taxing both physically and mentally. I would not survive something like that, and I know very few people who would accept it, and yet, this constant and exhausting state of awareness paid off beautifully on the mat.

He's really awesome! Sort of strict about the etiquette, being Japanese and all, but he's very patient with beginners like myself and doesn't mind if we make etiquette mistakes. I've learned so far, if he's staring at you, you've probably got the wrong foot in front. Although he always looks really strict and mean in the demonstrations, he's not. And he never uses women as his uke. Which is a tad disappointing. I think he believes it's not proper 'Budo'. He's altered his lessons a lot for us poor Aussies, who, according to Sensei have weak knees, so we don't do much of the knee walking,(shikko? i'm still learning the language. Still can't remember left and right) and more weapons stuff, so he doesn't seem really hung up on tradition either. I've only been training at his dojo for two weeks. So I shall tell you more the moment I've found out. And apparently he's scared of Christmas beetles...

He's really awesome! Sort of strict about the etiquette, being Japanese and all, but he's very patient with beginners like myself and doesn't mind if we make etiquette mistakes. I've learned so far, if he's staring at you, you've probably got the wrong foot in front. Although he always looks really strict and mean in the demonstrations, he's not. And he never uses women as his uke. Which is a tad disappointing. I think he believes it's not proper 'Budo'. He's altered his lessons a lot for us poor Aussies, who, according to Sensei have weak knees, so we don't do much of the knee walking,(shikko? i'm still learning the language. Still can't remember left and right) and more weapons stuff, so he doesn't seem really hung up on tradition either. I've only been training at his dojo for two weeks. So I shall tell you more the moment I've found out. And apparently he's scared of Christmas beetles...

Is it a yosh thing? I cant think of any aikikai folks who have not used women as uke. I dont get out of te house much, though.

Sensei has been in the Aikikai for nearly forty years! His pickiness about his ukes started about fifteen years ago, and it's definitely nothing to do with his Yoshinkan origins.

The only Aikikai teacher I have heard of who has an actual policy of not practising with women (actually I gather he doesn't even allow women as members in his dojo) is in Florida. He is quite clear about his reasons - whether anyone else agrees or disagrees with them is apparently not something that bothers him.

Just because people are good at (masters of) aikido does not necessarily make them well rounded human beings, paragons of virtue, able to get on with people, politically correct or gender neutral. We are all responsible for choosing our teachers and for deciding what it is we want to learn from said teachers!

My main teacher (Inaba sensei), is very encouraging (particularly for a Japanese man - perhaps this is me showing my biases!) to female practitioners and teachers. However, his preference for embu (demonstrations) is NOT that a (typically larger) male practitioner throws around a (typically smaller) female practitioner. The other way around is fine by him! That said, I have seen him take ukemi in kenjutsu from female practitioners for an embu, particularly with an iaito or shinken - the use of weapons evens things up - sharpness, speed and focus are the key elements.

Just because people are good at (masters of) aikido does not necessarily make them well rounded human beings, paragons of virtue, able to get on with people, politically correct or gender neutral. We are all responsible for choosing our teachers and for deciding what it is we want to learn from said teachers!